This Old Thing: Plaster bust depicts British monarch

Chairs

Monarch bust

Print

Q. I would like to know more about this bust I believe to be of George V by sculptor/artist T. Carli. I purchased it at a farm auction about 10 years ago, somewhere to the east of Ottawa.

I don’t recall paying more than $15 for it. I understand the sculptor carved many church statues in Quebec at the end of the 19th century. The bust measures 36 cm high (14 inches) and weighs 2.38 kg (5.25 pounds). Is it possibly plaster of Paris or chalkware? Any information you could provide would be appreciated.

—Pam, Alcove, Que. (near Wakefield)

A. This is Edward VII, predecessor to George V, although the two men did look remarkably alike. Edward reigned from 1901 until his death in 1910, lending his name to the Edwardian era. He was a great diplomat and a famous patron of both arts and sciences.

Your plaster bust was made by Italian artist Thomas Carli (1838-1906), who came to Montreal in the 1850s. He set up a workshop in 1867 and built a successful business creating decorative plaster and wood carvings of crucifixes, monuments and other church ornaments. Your bust would originally have been painted in realistic colours, highlighting the King’s dress and medal adornments. This could be restored, increasing your bust’s value.

Signed pieces by known Canadian sculptures are uncommon; as is, I think a Monarchist collector might pay $90. Restored, it could command as much as $275.

Q. My sister would like to know more about a print she has, entitled Helena and Hermia A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The rest of the information found on the print is “Copyright 1899, Published by H. Virtue & Company Limited, London 18 E.J.P. artist Sir Edward Poynter, 99 Premium Plate to subscribers to the Art Journal 1899 Etched by W. Heydemann.” The print is 56 centimetres tall and 64 centimetres wide (22 x 25 inches). It was bought at a local flea market five years ago.

— Brian, Moncton, N.B.

A. This is an etching by William Heydemann, who worked from a painting by historical and literary artist Sir Edward John Poynter. Both were English, and the subject of your etching is, of course, the two heroines of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Heydemann was a noted etcher of sentimental subjects and worked mostly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The oak frame with applied plaster highlights is also typical of this era. There is some obvious darkening to your print, likely caused by an original wood backing. Many sizes and editions of this particular print exist.

Your print’s lack of rarity, coupled with its slight damage, reduce its value considerably. You would do well to get $125 for it, even with the nice original frame.

Q. I have a pair of chairs that came from an uncle’s family home in Chateaugay, Que., east of Montreal. Sadly, he stripped them in the 1960s, but did not refinish them in any way. The chairs have been recaned and are 91 cm high (36 inches).

— David, Orleans, Ont.

A. Actually, what you have is a pair of early slat-back chairs with properly restored splint seats, not cane seats. Chairs of this style were made in great numbers in Quebec and Ontario from 1820 to 1840. The design is a simpler version of those made in the United States in the later 1700s.

The splint seats are often made from the inner bark of elm. Two of the posts on one chair are striking tiger maple, and the other woods could be yellow birch. As primitive as these chairs appear, there is much skill involved in making them. The subtle ring-turned decorations, the nice urn-shaped finials, and the fine scribe marks delineating where the slats fit into the posts all are signs of quality.

Generally, these chairs are not that popular today and do not sell well. Still, this pair should be worth $250 to an early Canadiana collector.

John Sewell is an antiques and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to this column, go to the Contact John page at www.johnsewellantiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and how you got it, what you paid and list any identifying marks. A high resolution jpeg must also be included. (Only email submissions accepted.) Appraisal values are estimates only.